(NC)-Builders are conditioned in the 21st century to be far more receptive to the request by property owners to use sustainable materials. From homes to hospitals to public buildings, the results yield higher quality, the building has more value, and the cost to the environment is substantially reduced.

"Don't hesitate as a homeowner to ask for building methods and materials that cause minimal impact and provide the highest energy efficiency," says Todd Blyth at Nudura Corporation, a leading name in building system technology. "It will be your contribution to the planet for as long as you live there-and builders today expect to hear responsible requests. In fact, to meet, and even surpass those expectations, more and more builders are discarding the wasteful wood-framing method in favour of concrete."

Take a look at the answers to the most frequently asked questions on this subject, courtesy of Nudura:

Q: Why concrete?

A: The latest advancement for walls is Canadian technology and it consists of stay-in-place concrete forms, which are vastly superior to construction with wood. For example, the Lego-like, pre-assembled units allow for more freedom in design. Also, the system cuts construction time in half and it produces far less waste than the traditional wood-framing method. Builders are now opting for these interlocking units (of reinforced concrete sandwiched between two layers of expanded polystyrene foam insulation) to construct better homes, schools, hospitals, condominiums, hotels, offices and other public buildings.

Q: What are the benefits?

A: Your energy bills will be reduced up to 70 percent-and with this concrete system, you'll also get a home that stands to be:

1. Twice as energy efficient (no air spaces or studs) and the technology evens out the effect of external temperature swings.

2. Up to three times more sound resistant due to the double-foam, insulated concrete core.

3. Up to four times more fire resistant, since the walls are built with steel reinforced concrete.

4. Up to nine times stronger, a superior feature in high-wind, tornado, or hurricane areas.